Report: Patriots rookie CB Christian Gonzalez likely to miss season with torn labrum

Christian Gonzalez, the rookie star for the Patriots. probably is out for the rest of the season.

This is according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Gonzalez, a cornerback, has a torn labrum in his shoulder.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Patriots rookie CB Christian Gonzalez likely to miss rest of 2023 season with torn labrum in shoulder, per @RapSheethttps://t.co/CA7wMSsoiX pic.twitter.com/ovkdsDhkhz

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) October 4, 2023

With Gonzalez likely gone for the season, the Patriots traded with the Chargers for JC Jackson. If you’re a New England fan, you know that Jackson is a former Pats cornerback. He signed with the Chargers last year.

The Athletic reported that the Chargers and Patriots will swap their 2025 6th- and 7th-round picks.

The trade for JC Jackson was necessary because… #Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez, who would have been a candidate for defensive rookie of the year, is likely to miss the rest of the 2023 season with a torn labrum from a dislocated shoulder on Sunday, sources say. Surgery soon. pic.twitter.com/97usulsG6N

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 4, 2023

Christian Gonzalez is 4th Pats cornerback to go down with injury

Christian Gonzalez will have surgery that is likely to end his season. He hurt his shoulder during the Patriots 38-3 loss to the Cowboys.

Gonzalez is a former star corner for the Oregon Ducks. The Patriots selected him with the 17th pick of April’s draft. He got off to an acid hot start to his pro career, earning rookie defensive player of the month for September.

It’s all bad news for the Patriots. By the time the game ended against the Cowboys, New England had lost its top four cornerbacks. Jack Jones and Marcus Jones already were on IR. Meanwhile, Jonathan Jones is dealing with an ankle injury that’s kept him out of three games.

The Chargers benched JC Jackson for the past two games. But the Patriots really need upright bodies right now.

Christian Gonzalez, through four games, totaled 17 tackles with an interception. He dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys. He landed awkwardly as he tried to tackle Cowboys running back Tony Pollard.

Once the Patriots returned home, doctors discovered that Gonzalez also had torn his labrum. It’s a painful injury. The labrum is the cartilage that lines the shoulder joint.